Baseball game



Jan. 7, 1936. 1 Q MAYER 2,026,791

BAS EBALL GAME Filed May l2, 1935 VZ lNvENToR 5 Lfofe/: C Hayek Patented Jan. 7, 1936 `.liurrlazo s'rnfrss PATENT OFFICE BASEBALL GAME Joseph C. Mayer, Cleveland, 4Ohio Application .May iz, 193e, serial No. 610,624 a (c1. 27s-9o) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a -game .apparatus :and more `.particularly to a baseball game.

Many types of baseball games have been proposed heretofore but 'in those games of which "I .5 have knowledge the particular manner `of playing such games depends :more or less upon chance and not upon the particular skill of those playing the game, particularly in view of the fact that .such games are reither played through the 4medium .1.01o'f a mechanical device or played by throwing ldice, spinning a top or some such device.

One -of the 4objects of the present invention is to provide 4a baseball game of a new type vin which the manner of lplaydependslupon the skill of the 15 players.

l Another object is to provide an improved baseball game .of such lconstruction and which is 4played 'in such manner .that the players are actively engaged during the progress of the game, 20 and f-in which many of the rulesAo-f the real game -of baseball maybe utilized and lplays made 'to represent the actual plays in a .game of baseball. A further object is to provide a baseball game of such construction that considerable skill is" '25 required to play it and in whichthe players may Vobtain `considerable exercise.

With the above andother obgects in view, which 'will be apparent from the following detailed description, the .present invention consists in BLD certain features of construction kand combinations Vof parts which will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the Vinvention appertains.

In the drawing, 'which illustrates a. `suitable lembodiment of `the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the game .apparatus ofthe present invention;

Fig. `2 is a longitudinal section taken approximately on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1,;

Fig. .3 is .an enlarged section taken :approximately on .the line v3--3 of Fig. `1 showing :one Avof the cages in front elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section taken approximately .on the `line 4-'4 of Fig. :3;

."Fig. l5 :is :a section taken vapproximately "on the .line l5-5 of Fig. `3;

Fig. '6 is an .enlargedfragmentary section taken Aapproximately .on'theline 6-'6 .of Fig. l showing the play cages `infront elevation; and

'Fig. '7 vis a .section taken approximately non :the .line .Fl-'l of Fig. l;

Referring to the .accompanying drawing .in which like numerals refer to like parts throughltout zthe several views, the game apparatus ofthe 55 presentinvention :includes a flat =base or playing ,board `I preferably of relatively large vsize which maybe supported on .a .table or the like :or provided with supporting legs (not shown), and `which .is formed of :any suitable :material such as'ply-wood or composition material. A.sui-table ,5 fupstanding railing `2 `of suitable material is -se cured to the playing boa-rd to .extend `around the ,periphery thereof. A suitable baseball diamond 3 is painted or otherwise provided on the playingr surface, the diamond' including representations up of za home plate 4, rst, second and third bases 15,16, and fl, respectively, `and a pitchers 4box 8. 'The -pitchers box 8 in order -to Aserve as a locating means kfor :a Aball l0, may :have .a slight depression =therein. The ball t0, -which .is of `fa. suitable zsize, may be of any suitable material, and if desired may be Vsome such device as 'a marble.

The fright, :left .and .center elders are repre- `sented by cages `I:I, l2, and I3, respectively. the :catcher by a cage I4, the lshortstop by a cage |.5, .andthe rst, .second and third basemen by cages t6, 1:1, .and -librespectively. 'I'hese cages, however, will `be later described in detail.

Extendingzacrossthe board back of the -elders Il, l2, and 1|3, `are a plurality of cages I9 which are provided `to receive the ball l0 and represents different yplays when the ball is received therein. 'Ihese cages lare .named to indicate .thelplays such Las Sacrifice, 2 Base hit, Double play, and other plays. In fact, these may be `of such number :andso designated as to include many of the plays that Larise in 'an actual baseball game.

In the form illustrated in the drawing, the catchers cageand `the outelders andinfielders f cages are :shown yto be of metal, but it is to be .understood .that they :may lbe of wood -or other suitable material. Furthermore, they .may be :of any suitable construction. In Athe form illustrated, `which I zprefer, .each cage as .shown `-in Figs. 3, 4, and 5., .is comprised of a back wall 220 having .rends 2l., the top ,and front :sides 4thereof lbeing open. Extending across the front of the cage near the :top is 1a bar 2v2, the ends of which are 4'suitably .secured to the ends 2l of the 'i cage such as in the manner :indicated in Fig. 5, `and `lbac'k 4of .this bar is a pivot rod 2,". "from `which anumberzof .stops -24 4are hingedly suspended. :These :stops when struck by the ball Hl .swing rearwardly toward the rear 4wall 20 as indicated in Fig. 4, `and .allow the aball :to enter the cage, .and then swing back .to their normal position .to prevent the ball from rebounding `through the open front. I prefer :to provide `the hack portion AYof .the finfleldersrand outielders cages with `an 55 opening 25 at one end to permit the ball, when it enters the cage at a certain point, to pass therethrough, thereby representing an error when the ball passes through such opening.

The catchers cage Ill may be mounted on the playing board I back of the home plate in any suitable manner, preferably against the end rail.

The other cages may be mounted on the playing board in any suitable manner, and in the manner shown in the drawing I have provided strips 21 secured to the playing board which have upwardly offset flanges at their forward edges to provide a space for receiving rearwardly extending flanges 28 provided at the bottoms of the back walls 29, of the cages as shown in Fig. 4.

' indicate the different plays.

A scoreboard 39 may be secured to the side rail 2 and also, for appearance, devices 3 I representing players dugouts may be provided.

The game is played by two players at a time, that is, a pitcher, and a batter, although several batters may play, each taking turns. The batter and pitcher both play at the same time each Ausing a cue-like element 32 which he holds in one hand. These elements comprise a stick portion of sufficient length that the player does not have to lean over the table, preferably having an end 33 the surface of which is arcuate as shown in Fig. 1. However, the end 33 may be of other suitable shapes. I have found, however, that by forming the end 33 with a curved surface the ball, by striking it at different points of the curved surface, may be made to move in different paths.

To play the game, the batter rests the end of the element 32 on the playing surface back of the home plate 4, and the pitcher similarly, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, rests the end of the element 32 that he is using on the playing surface back of the ball I9, the ball I preferably being disposed in a depression in the pitchers box 8. 'Ihe player representing the pitcher slides the element 32 forward, striking the ball II) and causing it to move toward the plate 4.

The object of the player representing the batter is Vto slide the element 32 that he is using and `strike the ball in such manner that it will clear the iniielders and outiielders cages and lodge in one of the play cages I9. However, should the Ybatter not strike the ball and the ball is lodged in the catchers cage I4 this may be counted asa strike, and, similarly, should the ball clear the lcatchers cage I4 this may be counted as a ball. Furthermore, if the batter does strike the ball and it stops back of the foul line 3d, such a play may be counted as a foul ball.

Ifthe batter strikes the ball and returns it so that` it is lodged in one of the iniielders or outelders cages, this may be counted as an out.

However, in such case, should the ball after entering one of these cages pass out through the opening 25 in the back wall, this may be counted as an error.

Ifthe batter, for instance, should strike the ball in such manner that it clears the inflelders and outflelders cages and becomes lodged in one of the play cages I9, such as in the 2 base hit cage, a figure 35, representing a base runner, is deposited at second base 5. In the next play, if the batter should strike the ball and it should 5 lodge in the cage I9 marked Single, the first runner is positioned on third base and another runner positioned on first base. On the next play, if the ball is lodged in the cage I9 marked Double play the batter is out and either the 10 runner on i'lrst or third base is removed from the eld, depending upon the particular set of rules that are formulated, and the remaining runner may be advanced one base. If the man on first base is removed, then the runner on third base is allowed to score a run, which may be indicated on the score board.

It is obvious that a number of rules may be formulated for playing the game and that such rules may be similar to many of those involved in an actual game of baseball and it is to be understood that the foregoing plays are merely given for the purpose of illustration. Furthermore, the different plays represented by the cages I9 may be arranged in any suitable order and the different cages may be of any suitable material and of any suitable construction for receiving the ball.

It is, therefore, seen that I have provided a baseball game in which both players are actively engaged at play at the same time in which the players may obtain considerable exercise, and. furthermore, in which considerable skill is required to cause the ball to clear the lnelders and outflielders cages in order to lodge in one of the play cages to accomplish a predetermined play.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and il- ,40 lustration and that various modifications oi.' said apparatus and procedure can rbe made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: .45

1. A game apparatus comprising a base having a playing surface representing a baseball diamond, inelders and outelders cages disposed to receive a ball manually propelled forward toward the home plate by an element in the hands of one player vand manually struck back and returned by an' element in the hands of another player, and a plurality of play cages disposed rearwardly of said outrlelders cages whereby when the latter player returns the ball it mustv clear said inelders and outflelders cages in crder to lodge in one of said play cages to accomplish a predetermined play which depends upon the skill of the player, each of said infielders and outfielders cages comprising an element having a 80 back wall, side walls, an open front, an open top and a plurality of hinged stops depending across said open front.

2. A game apparatus comprising a base having a'playing surface representing a baseball dia- 65 mond, inelders' and outiielders cages disposed to receive a ball manually propelled forward toward the home plate by an element in the hands of one player and. manually struck back and returned by an element in the hands of another player, and a plurality of play cages disposed rearwardly of saidl outelders cages whereby when the latter player returns the ball it must clear said inielders and outelders cages in order to lodge in one of said play cages to accomplish a predetermined play which depends upon the skill of the player, each of said inelders and outelders cages comprising an element having a back wall, side walls, an open front, an open top and a plurality of hinged stops depending across said open front, said last mentioned element having a pivot bar extending between Athe upper portion of said side walls and said stops being pivoted on said bar for hinging movement toward said back wall when struck by the ball.

3. A game apparatus comprising a base having a playing surface representing a baseball diamond, infielders and outelders cages disposed to receive a ball manually propelled forward toward the home plate by an element in the hands of one player and manually struck back and returned by an element in the hands of another player, and a plurality of play cages disposed rearwardly of said outelders cages whereby when the latter player returns the ball it must clear said inelders and outelders cages in order to lodge in one of said play cages to accomplish a predetermined play which depends upon the skill of. the player, each of said inelders and outelders cages comprising an element mounted upon said playing surface and having a back Wall, side walls, an open front, an open top, and 10 hinged stop means extending across said open front, the back wall of at least one of said elements having an opening therethrough adjacent said playing surface for the passage of the ball therethrough under certain conditions.

JOSEPH C. MAYER. 

